For the rest of us, the message is simply "be prepared." If your "go bag" is not prepared, if there are not shoes stored close to your bed, if you don't know the risk of a tsunami in your neighborhood and if you don't know how you would meet up with scattered family members, you have some work to do.

First, plan ahead with your family and neighbors. It's a great excuse for a neighborhood gathering, and there are wonderful outlines available from the Curry County Emergency Services Department at 541-247-3208.

When the earth shakes, drop and seek cover under a table, desk or bed.

When the earth stops shaking, head for high ground in case the quake has caused a tsunami. Once the immediate dangers have passed, we all must be prepared to help ourselves for the first three or four days. It could be some time before help arrives.

In the meantime, if you want to learn more about earthquakes and what's happening off our coast, go to earthquake.usgs.gov.